Chic and Compostable Partyware

Holidays mean family, friends, and parties that celebrate all the love (and food) of the season. And parties mean... dishes. Lots of dishes. When your big dinner parties call for more than a few place settings from your cupboard, disposable dinnerware is convenient, simple, and now — even sustainable. These elegant pieces are a far cry from cheap (and wasteful) plastic goods, and they dress up a table quite nicely.

Bamboo Studio: The company carries disposable bamboo wares for every type of party in hard-to-find shapes, whether you need a ramekin, wine plate, boat, coaster or cone. The products are made from bamboo sheath, a protective covering found on newly emerging bamboo plants. As the bamboo matures, the sheath falls to the ground and is collected, cleaned, laminated and pressed into shape, all without harsh chemicals.

Bamboo Cups: For a matching tabletop, you can add these stylish and self-insulating cups made from renewable bamboo. Although they are fairly pricey for being compostable cups, their durability allows them to be fully reusable — and ready for the next party.

EaternalPlates: This extensive line of biodegradable plates is made from naturally fallen palm leaves, so no trees are ever cut in the manufacturing process. Each plate features distinctive and natural grain patterns of the areca leaf sheath used in producing it. The plates are leak-proof, resistant to heat and cold, and are so sturdy that they can be rinsed and reused three or four times before going into your compost bin.

Earthen: Canada-based Earthen also makes compostable dinnerware from fallen palm leaves. The dried leaf sheath of the areca palm is a renewable raw material that resembles a thin sheet of wood after being processed into Earthen wares. This makes the products tough enough to withstand hot food and liquids while still feeling comfortable in your hand.

Tapioca Fiberware: For a more colorful affair, this line comes in a handful of pretty shades, all dyed using natural pigments. The unique tableware is made from allergen-free fibers of tapioca and starch. These sustainable materials are so sturdy that they can be put in the oven and microwave — even rinsed and reused multiple times before being tossed in the home compost.

Ecoware: Complete your place setting with biodegradable wooden cutlery from Ecoware. It's not only fully compostable, it's also made from FSC-certified birch wood so strong, the company even claims the knife will cut steak. Big points over flimsy plastic! Ecoware's manufacturing is completely sustainable with no chemicals, additives or coatings, and the materials are sourced from replanted trees in farmed forests.

Birchware: Another line of 100% birch wood cutlery with no dyes, bleaches or glazes. Birchware will completely biodegrade in less than 60 days in a home compost bin.

Paper Straws: For serving up punch — in more ways than one — paper straws now come in a dizzying array of colors and patterns to match any party theme you can possibly dream up. They're made in the USA using biodegradable paper and FDA-approved ink, and compost at home in just a few short months.